The thoroughbred Azeri -- 2002 Horse of the Year and a three-time champion, which is in foal to Distorted Humor -- brought a final bid of $2.25 million to top yesterday’s opening session of Keeneland’s November
Breeding Stock Sale.
Shunsuke Yoshida signed the ticket for Azeri on behalf his father, Katsumi Yoshida, owner of Northern Farm, one of Japan’s premier Thoroughbred breeding operations. John Sikura’s Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency consigned the 11-year-old daughter of Jade Hunter for the Allen E. Paulson Living Trust.
“We didn’t expect we’d be able to buy this mare. She is a beautiful mare of course, with a great race record,” Shunsuke was quoted as saying in an article posted on keeneland.com.
Gross receipts for Tuesday totaled $26,291,500, down 45.25 per cent from last year’s $48,021,000. The average of $208,663 decreased 35.26 per cent from $322,289 in 2008, while the median was down 13.51 per cent from $185,000 to $160,000. A total of 126 horses were sold on opening day this year compared to 149 in 2008. The 'not sold' rate decreased 16.45 per cent.
“The sale was as expected,” said Geoffrey Russell, Keeneland’s director of sales. “It was a very cosmopolitan buyers list. We knew there would be strong overseas participation, especially with regard to broodmares, which was reflected in the top five prices – one American buyer (Jess Jackson’s Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings) and the rest were either Australian or Japanese. The economies in those particular countries have rebounded faster than the American market and their rate of exchange has never been better. Both countries as well have always admired the American Thoroughbred and what it can do to improve their own breed.”
The November Sale continues through Sunday, November 22; sessions begin daily at 10:00 a.m. The entire sale is streamed live at keeneland.com.
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(With files from keeneland.com)